Pea-soup skies are a hallmark of coastal California summers. Though a bane to human beachgoers, the cool, moist air has nurtured a remarkable community of native plants known as maritime chaparral.
The ground-hugging contours of maritime chaparral don't occur by accident. UC Santa Cruz biology professor Laurel Fox reveals how an army of animal browsers manicures this community of plants.
Trees often stash more sugar than they currently need to survive. Tree breath is revealing how California oaks manage their energy pools and how these savings may be an indicator of oak health.
The banks of fog that roll across the California coast can slake the thirst of plant and human communities alike.
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Record-breaking temperatures are forecast for California's future. Scientists out in the field on the hottest days of the year are discovering how native plants will cope with tomorrow's temperature spikes.
Oaks are found across California, in locales hotter, drier, cooler, or wetter than trees 500 miles to the north or south. The genes responsible for such local adaptation, argues UCLA professor of biology Victoria Sork, may help carry oaks through a century of severe climate shifts.
Crushed windshields, dented front ends, and a disturbingly high death-rate result when traffic mingles with wildlife. Advancing the science of road ecology to keep drivers and animals safe is the goal of the Highway 89 Stewardship Team.
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